Craigslist Re-Imagination

Craigslist

Re-Imagination

✦

Reviving a dead internet artifact through design

Craigslist was the heart and soul of community building back in its prime. Nowadays, its outdated UI, lack of organization, and poor user experience have led the site toward a lackluster reputation and decline in users.

Craigslist was the heart and soul of community building back in its prime. Nowadays, its outdated UI, lack of organization, and poor user experience have led the site toward a lackluster reputation and decline in users.

This presented a fruitful opportunity to improve the site’s organization, incorporate graphical components, and improve user experience. When I started collaborating with my team, I already had ideas buzzing around in my head. Over the next few months, I expanded on these ideas by learning users’ desires and creating a visually compelling, functional design.

This presented a fruitful opportunity to improve the site’s organization, incorporate graphical components, and improve user experience. When I started collaborating with my team, I already had ideas buzzing around in my head.


Over the next few months, I expanded on these ideas by learning users’ desires and creating a visually compelling, functional design.

User Research

User Research

Survey Creation & Findings

My team and I deployed a Google Form survey to 8 site users. The survey was comprised of 12 questions about our target audiences’ demographics.

5 out of 7

users identified as college students

users identified as college students

87.5%

of users were 18-25 years old

of users were 18-25 years old

User Personas

We developed two data-driven user personas based on our female and male users.

We developed two data-driven user personas based on our female and male users.

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

Card Sorting

Using Optimal Workshop, I conducted a closed card sort with 5 users. Each item had to be categorized under either Community, For Sale, Housing, or Jobs. The results matrix for all 20 items sorted are shown below.

Local News

Lost & Found

Pets

Missed Connections

Free Items

Antiques

Electronics

Garage Sale

Musical Instruments

Art/Media/Design

1

3

5

3

4

3

4

4

4

5

2

1

1

1

5

1

1

2

Community

For Sale

Housing

Jobs

Real Estate

Food & Hospitality

TV/Film/Video

Events

Talent

Writing

Vacation Rentals

Subletting

Housing Wanted

Commercial Spaces

1

2

2

1

4

1

4

4

1

5

3

2

5

5

1

4

3

2

Community

For Sale

Housing

Jobs

Local News

Lost & Found

Pets

Missed Connections

Free Items

Antiques

Electronics

Garage Sale

Musical Instruments

Art/Media/Design

1

3

5

3

4

3

4

4

4

5

2

1

1

1

5

1

1

2

Community

For Sale

Housing

Jobs

Real Estate

Food & Hospitality

TV/Film/Video

Events

Talent

Writing

Vacation Rentals

Subletting

Housing Wanted

Commercial Spaces

1

2

2

1

4

1

4

4

1

5

3

2

5

5

1

4

3

2

Community

For Sale

Housing

Jobs

Site Navigation

Usability Testing

Usability Testing

Testing Material

My team and I created a test script and test plan. We tested six users in total, instructing them to navigate the site through a series of scenarios. We tested the usability of both sections of the site: Community and For Sale.

Testing Scenarios

First Scenario:

Imagine you want to purchase auto parts on Craigslist. You open the site to the home page.


Task 1: Please describe your first impression of the home page.


Task 2: Navigate to the auto parts section and click on the link.


Task 3: Without scrolling, please describe your first impression of the auto parts page.

Second Scenario:

You would like to be informed about what is happening in your local community. You click on the community link on the home page.


Task 1: Scroll through the community page and click on a post that interests you.


Task 2: Do you feel that the information fills out the page well? Please explain your answer.

Third Scenario:

Imagine you are planning for a weekend activity for you and your friends.


Task 1: Tell us how you would like to get notified about certain events.


Task 2: From the Homepage, click on Community, then type in the activity on the search bar.


Task 3: Give us feedback on how your search went.

Results and Findings

The majority of users wanted a Dark Mode version of the site.

User-Centered Design

User-Centered Design

Wireframes

I drafted up wireframes in Figma based on findings from the usability testing phase. The re-design was focused on the Home page and Community page.

Accessibility Considerations

The color palette was tested through the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to keep the website compliant with WCAG guidelines.

Final Design Prototype

Work

About

Behance

athenalunadesigns@gmail.com

© 2025 by Athena Luna